Washing-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. MUELLER.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 388,996. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. MUELLER.

WASHING MACHINE. No. 388,996. Patented Sept. 4, 1888.

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ATENT tries.

ALOIS MUELLER, OF NEILLSVILLE, WISOONSlN.

WASHING- MACE-HNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 388,996, datedSeptember 4, 1888.

Application filed May 5, 1887. Serial No. 237,214.

To ctZZ whom it; may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALoIs MUELLER, of Neillsville, in the county ofClark and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and Improved CombinedWashing Machine and Boiler, of which the following is afull, clear, andexact description.

My invention relates to the construction of an improved wash-boiler andwashing-niachine combined in one, and has for its object to render thesame simple and strong in construction, convenient in use, and extremelyeffective in operation, while very easy upon the clothes treated.

To this end the invention consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter fully described,and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a partofthis specificatiomin which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan of my combined washing machine and boiler, the upperboiler-section being raised to show the washing-cylinder in position.Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of themachine, showing the upper boiler-section as closed. Figs. 4., 5, and 6aredetail views hereinafter more fully described.

A designates the lower section, and B the upper section, of which theboiler of my improved machine is composed.

The lower section, A, is formed at its lower part into a flat-bottomedrectangular box, A, adapted to rest upon the top 0 of a stove or heater,and which may be depressed at its middle part, as shown, similarly tothe ordi nary wash-boiler, to fit the openingin the top C, as in Fig. 3.The upper portion, A of the lower section, A, is semi-cylindrical inform, and, in conjunction with the upper semicylindrical section, B,hinged thereto, forms a cylindrical casing to completely iuclose thewashing-cylinder. Cast-metal frames D and E extend completely around themeeting edges of the lower and upper sections, A and B, respectively,and are secured thereto so as to strengthen and stiffen the sheet metalof which they are made. The hinges E of the (No model.)

sections directly connect these frames, with which they may be castintegrally, if desired. A deep groove, D, is cast in the upper side ofthe lower frame, D and extends around the same to receive a rubber orothersuitable packing, and a corresponding tongue, E, is cast on thelower side of the upper frame, E, to fit in the groove D, compress thepacking therein, and thereby form a perfectly steam and water tightjoint, as shown in cross-see tion in Fig. 5.

The upper and lower frames, E D, are cast at their ends withcorresponding half-boxes, E D", which form when the boiler is closedsteam-tight bearings for the journals F F of the washing-cylinder. Whenthe washingcylinder is not in use,the holes left in the sectional endbearings are tightly closed by headed plugs G, having their heads on theinside, as in Fig. 6, so as to prevent their being blown out by thepressure of the steam. Studs Hare cast upon and project from the frontof the upper frame, E, in position to be engaged by strong metal claspsH, hinged to the lower section near its ends, so as to keep the boilerclosed against the pressure of the steam.

The clasps H are bowed sharply outward just above their respectivehinge-joints, so as to set over and closely embrace between the ends ofthe bow the two meeting frames D, and thus additionally secure themagainst ac cidental separation.

Crooked handles I project outward and downward from the front of thelower cast frame, .D, near the ends of the same, and on the rear of saidframe D similarly-arranged handles J are formed integrally andcontinuously with rearwardly-inclined legs K, which prevent the machinefrom being overbalanced when the upper section, B, is raised, as in Fig.2. By means of the opposite pairs of handles I and J the whole machinemay be readily carried from place to place. Crooked arms LL projectcentrally from the front and rear, respectively, of the upper frame, F,the front arms, L, serving as a handle for raising and lowering saidsection, the rear arm, L, serving as a stop to prevent the section fromfalling back too far. A cock, M, of the ordinary description, isinserted in one end of the lower part of the boiler for drawing off thewater, as when it is desired to move the machine.

Combined safety-valves and steam-whistles N, of the usual description,project from the top of the upper section to signify and afford relieffor excessive steam-pressure.

The washing-cylinder employed in conjunction with the sectional boilerabove described is of peculiar construction, having its heads 0 andcylindrical side wall, P, formed of sheet metal suitably securedtogether and strengthened and punctured or depressed from the outside toform numbers of spherical prominences on the interior of the cylinder.

A number of spherical washing-bolts like the bolt 0, (shown in Fig. 3,)havingan indented or fluted surface formed by cutting two series ofgrooves at right angles to each other, and each series extendingentirely around the bolt, are placed in the Washingcylinder with theclothes, and cooperate with the spherical prominences on the interior ofthe cylinder so as to thoroughly rub the steam and water into theclothes without injuring the same.

Series of longitudinal slots Q are cut in the wall P of the cylinder,and series of radial slots R in the heads thereof, and the metal at oneside of said slots presses outward, so as to form inclined chutesleading to the interior of the cylinder. The chutes Q, thus formed inthe wall of the cylinder face in an opposite direction to the chutes R,formed in the heads of the cylinder, so that when the cylinder isrevolved the scalding water and steam pro duced within the boiler willbe forced into the cylinder through the chutes Q in its wall and ejectedfrom those in its heads, or vice versa, according to the direction ofrotation of the cylinder, so that a constant and rapid circulation ofsteam and scalding water will be maintained through the cylinder and theclothes therein.

The longitudinal chutes Q in the side wall of the cylinder are arrangedin parallel lines about the cylinder, the lines consisting alter natelyof a single chute of about half and at the middle of the length of thecylinder, and a pair of chutes, each extending from behind an end of thesingle chute to within some distance of the corresponding end of thecylinder. The radial chutes in the heads of the cylinder are much widerat their outer ends than at their-"inner ends, their sides being onradial lines having the same center as the cylinderheads.

To strengthen the sheet-metal heads of the washingcylinder, solidstar-like castings F are soldered or secured centrally thereto, withtheir branches severally radiating between the radial slots R to stiffenthe chutes formed thereat, and with the castings F are formed integrallythe before-mentioned journals F F oi the cylinder. An opening is formedin the wall P of the cylinder, extending the length thereof, for theintroduction and removal of the clothes and bolts, and at the sides ofsaid opening are provided parallel grooved guides S, in which the door Sis mounted to slide, said door being peculiarly formed like the rest ofthe cylinder.

The door S is formed with an apertured boss, S to receive a hook foradjusting the door, and an ordinary catch, S is pivoted to the left-handcylinder-head, Fig. 1, for engaging the end of the door and holding itin place. The right-hand cylinder-head extends outward to the guides S,and serves as a stop to limit the movement of the sliding door in thatdirection.

The journal F is provided with a crankhandle, F for revolving thecylinder, and the journal F with a spherical head to prevent itscatching and tearing the clothes. With this construction a perfectlysteam and water tight boiler is produced, by which the water and steamcan be raised to a temperature above the ordinary boiling degree,so thatthe clothes, being subjected to the rubbing action simultaneously withthe constant circulation of such highly-heated water and steam, asdescribed, are quickly and thoroughly cleaned without incurring theslightest injury; also, in simply boiling the clothes thewashing-cylinder being removed, the same advantages of high temperatureare secured,while the scalding water 5 is effectually prevented fromsplashing out, as in the case of the ordinary boiler, and the water canbe quickly drawn off through the cock, so as to permit the entiremachine to be moved about. Further, from the shape of the boiler it isrendered as portable as the ordinary plain wash-tub, while from thecylindrical shape of its upper part it is not only adapted to receivethe washing-cylinder, but is enabled to hold a much larger quantity ofwater, and hence possesses a much greater capacity than the usual formof boiler.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a washing-machine of the character described, the combination,with a boiler con sisting of upper and lower separable sections andframes surrounding the meeting edges of the same, arranged to form asteam-tight joint, and formed with corresponding half jourual boxes, ofa headed plug adapted to be held with its head inside in the hole formedby the half journal-boxes in meeting, substantially as described.

2. In a washing-machine of the character described, the combination,with a boiler composed of upper and lower separable sections, of astiffening-frame surrounding the lower section, crooked handlesprojecting from the front of said frame,and curved handles and legsrigidly attached thereto projecting from the rear of said frame,substantially as described.

3. The combination,with the two-part boiler composed of upper and lowersections hinged together, and means for locking the sections,

IIO

eafsec 3 of front and rear curved handles on the upper when open, and anout-wardinclined leg on the :0 section, said rear handles being curveddownhinged side of the lower section to prevent the wardly and restingagainst the lower section overturning of the cylinder when its upperwhen said upper section is open to support the section is supported inits open position by 5 same, substantially as set forth. said stop,substantially as set forth.

L. The combination, with the two part ALOIS MUELLER. hinged cylindricalboiler, of a downward- WVitnesses: curved stop secured to the hingededge of the HERMAN SoHUsTER,

upper section to span the joint and support it JOHN FORSTER.

